From Men's Health · Evan Romano · · 1m 40s
Mike Flanagan on Remaking Carrie
Mike Flanagan explains why he remade Stephen King's Carrie for modern audiences.
In brief
Mike Flanagan explains why he remade Stephen King's Carrie for modern audiences. Mike Flanagan remakes Carrie to explore modern bullying and kindness through a new lens. Originally reported by Men's Health.
Mike Flanagan's initial response
Mike Flanagan initially refused to remake Carrie, saying he didn't see the need.
“Nah”
Modern relevance of Carrie
Flanagan connected Carrie to modern issues like bullying and family abuse.
“he was thinking about a story out of Albany, California”
Flanagan's adaptation approach
Flanagan uses Carrie's structure to explore modern characters and their struggles.
“you do something new, and you use Carrie and the structure and the characters that we think we know as a way to usher this story into being”
Flanagan's previous adaptations
Flanagan adapted The Haunting of Hill House and The Fall of the House of Usher successfully.
“His Netflix series The Haunting of Hill House and The Fall of the House of Usher were based on the works of Shirley Jackson and Edgar Allan Poe”
Carrie's modern characters
Carrie White goes to school after her father's death, with new supporting characters.
“Carrie White (Summer H. Howell) goes to public school for the first time after her conspiracy theorist father dies”
Chris Hargensen's character
Chris Hargensen is a complex character with relatable motivations and struggles.
“Sue Snell says, 'We were kids. We were kids. We were kids trying to do our best'”
Stephen King's involvement
Stephen King is a producer on the show and has been involved in creative decisions.
“Stephen King is a producer on the show”
Margaret White's character
Margaret White has a complex relationship with her daughter that explores love and fear.
“She loves her daughter so much. Her daughter's the only reason she lives in this”
Tommy Ross's character
Tommy Ross shows genuine concern for Carrie White early in the series.
“Tommy Ross is the first character on the whole show who's like, 'That's rough. Is she okay?'”
Flanagan's relationship with King
Flanagan and King are friends with mutual trust in creative decisions.
“We spent the night in Maine at his place last night after a really terrific dinner with him and his wife”
Carrie's three-season arc
Flanagan plans a three-season arc but focuses on the first season's story.
“All I have in mind right now are speculative wishes”
Flanagan's experience
Flanagan gained experience through previous adaptations to create this version.
“I think I figured it out. I think I know the process that I need to do here”
Cast's reaction to original
Cast members were shocked by differences from the original Carrie movie.
“Summer looked over at me and was like … I know, we did different. We did different”
Flanagan's view on kindness
Flanagan emphasizes the importance of understanding rather than revenge.
“I think that's such a dangerous thing to put out there in the world”
What happens next
Flanagan focuses on exploring Carrie White's journey in the first season.
“We only got to see the tip of the iceberg of her place in this legacy of other gifted women”
The bottom line
Mike Flanagan remakes Carrie to explore modern bullying and kindness through a new lens.
